Galunisertib plus neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer: a single-arm, phase 2 trial.

Background: TGF-β is an immunosuppressive cytokine that is upregulated in colorectal cancer. TGF-β blockade improved response to chemoradiotherapy in preclinical models of colorectal adenocarcinoma. We aimed to test the hypothesis that adding the TGF-β type I receptor kinase inhibitor galunisertib to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy would improve pathological complete response rates in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Fecal incontinence: help for patients who suffer silently.

Once you've identified patients with this embarrassing condition, achieving optimal outcomes hinges on your familiarity with advances like sacral nerve stimulation.

Construct domain analysis of patient health-related quality of life: physical and mental trajectory profiles following open versus endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Purpose: Many clinical trials comparing the outcomes of open surgical repair (OSR) versus endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) have been conducted, with varying results. Surprisingly, few outcomes studies have closely examined perceived physical and mental health-related quality of life (HRQOL) factors through a validated survey tool. The purpose of this prospective observational study was to describe the trajectory of HRQOL measures, from baseline to 1 year after surgery, in patients undergoing OSR or EVAR for AAA, and to explore for differences in physical and mental composite scores and their construct domains (subscales) using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36(®)) tool.

Spatiotemporal expression profiling of proteins in rat sciatic nerve regeneration using reverse phase protein arrays.

Background: Protein expression profiles throughout 28 days of peripheral nerve regeneration were characterized using an established rat sciatic nerve transection injury model. Reverse phase protein microarrays were used to identify the spatial and temporal expression profile of multiple proteins implicated in peripheral nerve regeneration including growth factors, extracellular matrix proteins, and proteins involved in adhesion and migration. This high-throughput approach enabled the simultaneous analysis of 3,360 samples on a nitrocellulose-coated slide.

Role of the sagittal view of computed tomography in evaluation of the nasofrontal ducts in frontal sinus fractures.

Purpose: Frontal sinus fractures are relatively uncommon due to the high-impact force required to produce these. However, their management is quite complex, with the treatment algorithm incorporating many factors in which the status of the nasofrontal ducts is critically important. Traditionally, this has been evaluated by both axial and coronal computed tomographic (CT) scan views.

Role of sagittal reformatted computed tomographic images in the evaluation of orbital floor fractures.

Background: The sagittal plane computed tomographic (CT) scan has been proposed as the most important radiologic view in the diagnosis of orbital floor fractures. Before the advent of high-resolution CT, several articles were published in the radiology literature debating the need for direct sagittal views, which required cumbersome patient positioning. Today, the ability to easily create high-quality sagittal reformations requires reassessment of the importance of this view in the evaluation of orbital floor fractures.

Duration of smoking cessation and its impact on skin flap survival.

Background: Empirical and experimental evidence abounds as to the negative effects of smoking on skin flaps. The ideal duration of preoperative smoking cessation is unclear. The present study evaluates the effect of various durations of smoking cessation on skin flap survival in a rat model.

Evaluation of a novel reverse thermosensitive polymer for use in microvascular surgery.

Microvascular clamps have several potential shortcomings, including the risk of vessel injury. LeGoo, a novel reverse thermosensitive polymer (Pluromed Inc., Woburn, MA), is investigated as a substitute to vascular clamping in a microsurgical model and the technical details are described.

Evaluation of a new 4-strand flexor tendon repair in a cadaveric porcine model.

Purpose: Numerous flexor tendon repairs have been described. The ideal core flexor tendon repair optimizes strength characteristics while minimizing factors felt to contribute to adhesion formation. The present study compares ultimate tensile strength, gap strength, and surgical time in the Lahey repair, a new 4-strand flexor tendon repair, to 2 previously described techniques.

Disruption of graft endothelium correlates with early failure after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.

Background: Saphenous vein graft failure after coronary artery bypass surgery may be as high as 5% to 10% in the first postoperative week. We hypothesized that identifying damage sustained by saphenous vein endothelium before grafting predicts early graft attrition after off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Methods: Intraoperative graft flow, platelet function, and endothelial integrity were analyzed in 125 patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery.